Snow Removal for Truck Stops and Highway Service Sites

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

A site that never empties

Most commercial lots can be cleared while the business is closed. A truck stop on a highway is different. Drivers pull in at every hour, rigs are parked overnight for mandatory rest, and the fuel islands and store are open around the clock. Thames Valley Snow services a 24/7 truck stop on Highway 401, so we plan these sites around one simple fact: the crew always works while the lot is in use.

Priorities on a truck stop lot

With constant traffic, the crew needs a clear order of work so the most important areas are never left for long. A typical priority list looks like this:

• Entrances and exits from the road, so trucks can get in and out safely
• Fuel islands and the lanes approaching them
• Walkways, entrances and steps to the store and washrooms
• Main drive lanes through the truck parking area
• Car parking near the building
• Overnight truck rows, which are cleared as rigs move out

Working around parked rigs

Large parts of a truck stop are occupied by parked trucks during a storm, often with drivers asleep inside. Crews cannot plow those rows until the trucks leave, so the plan has to include returning to them as space opens up. Good communication with the site manager helps, as does keeping drive lanes open so rigs can leave without getting stuck in a windrow.

Walkways matter as much as the lot

Drivers climbing down from a cab after hours on the road are stepping onto whatever surface is below them, often in the dark and in work boots. Walkways from the truck rows to the building, the store entrance and steps all need to be hand-cleared and salted on every visit. On a busy site, refreeze is a constant concern because traffic packs snow and melt into ice quickly. Our salting and ice control page covers how we handle these conditions.

Piling and records on a 24/7 site

Space is valuable on a truck stop, and piles in the wrong spot can block turning radius for long trailers. Piles should be placed away from doors, drains, fuel islands and the paths trucks need to swing through. Because so many people use the site every hour, documentation is especially important. A timestamped photo log every visit shows what was cleared and when, which helps the operator respond to any incident report.

Contracts for around-the-clock sites

Pricing for a 24/7 site depends on its paved area, walkway length and the fact that it never closes. These sites usually need repeat visits during long storms, so the pricing structure should be discussed carefully. Ask for a written contract that describes how often the crew will return during continuous snowfall. See our commercial snow removal page for more.

Communication is the other piece. On a site that never closes, the crew lead and the site manager should know how to reach each other at any hour. A quick message when the crew arrives and when it leaves, together with the photo log, keeps the operator informed without anyone having to walk the lot in a storm. If something changes on site, such as a closed fuel lane, a delivery due at a set time or a new area being used for parking, telling the crew early lets them adjust the route before they arrive.

Get a written quote for your site

We provide 24/7 commercial snow and ice service with a written contract, $2,000,000 commercial general liability coverage and WSIB registration. Request a measured price through our quote form, or call or text (548) 888-8702. A written quote usually comes back within 2 business days.

What's included… and what's extra

Commercial snow service is priced per site from paved area, walkway length and opening time. A typical contract includes plowing at the agreed trigger depth, clearing before opening, hand-cleared entrances, sidewalks and ramps, and a timestamped photo log of every visit.

Common extras are quoted separately so you only pay for what the site needs: salting and de-icing per event, extra sidewalk or ramp coverage, after-hours or priority service, and snow relocation when piles run out of room. See commercial snow removal or request a site quote by calling or texting (548) 888-8702.